German table tennis icon Timo Boll has said he will end his international career after a seventh Olympics this summer in Paris and retire for good next year.
Boll, 43, is set to compete in the team event in Paris, having won two silvers and bronze medals each in the event at previous Games.
He also helped Germany to seven European team titles and four silvers plus a bronze at world championships.
In individual events he has a record eight European titles plus two bronze from the worlds.
"The prospect of competing at the Olympics for a seventh time has kept me going through hell for the last two years," Boll told the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, referring to various injuries.
"I postponed the decision for a long time and was also afraid of the day I would have to make it. But I realise that I've reached an age that is really putting pressure on my level. And that makes me unhappy.
"At some point you lose the constant battle against the pain and your body," he added. "The last year was really not fun."
Boll said he will quit for good after completing the final season of his contract at Borussia Düsseldorf next year.